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The black phantom tetra ( Megalamphodus megalopterus) is a species of freshwater Actinopterygii belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins. This species is found in South America, in Bolivia and Brazil. It is a common species in the Fish keeping trade.
The male black phantom tetras have longer fins than the females and when in breeding condition, the females become plumper, but the biggest difference is in their colour. The males have no red, while the smaller fins of the female both on the top and underneath them are red. The adipose fin, on the top of the body behind the larger dorsal fin, is much more noticeable in the females than the males, because in females it is red while in the males it is grey. The female's dorsal fin has a more intense black than the male's. When the fish are in breeding condition, the colours of both sexes become more distinct, with the male showing its black fins more obviously.
Distribution and habitat
The black phantom tetra is found in South AMerica where it occurs in the upper basins of the Guaporé River and the Paraguay River in Bolivia and Brazil. Here it is found in slow flowing waters, typically on floodplain areas, preferring habitats with abundant aquatic vegetation.
Biology
The black phantom tetra will form mixed shoals with other species, such as the serpae tetra ( M. eques) and these tend to remain close to the shore, where they forage among roots, fallen branches and in the vicinity of marginal and aquatic vegetation. They are frequently collected from the shady spaces below beds of water hyacinth, ( Pontederia crassipes). The roots of the water hyacinths offer safe haven for numerous small fishes, as well as providing food in the abundance of insects which live among and on them. The fish breed in the wet season when the floodplians become inundated, giving these omnivorous fishes access to more areas to feed and scatter eggs.
Utilisation
The black phantom tetra is a popular fishes in the aquarium trade, however, almost all the fishes featuring in that trade are captive bred.
See also
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